by Pepper Schwartz

Why Sarah Palin Fascinates (and Horrifies) Me
Whenever I get a surge of anger just thinking about someone, I know that my reaction is not all about them. I know there must be something in me that this person threatens and exhumes, perhaps from childhood- or perhaps from right now. So when I think of Sarah Palin and immediately get that visceral reaction, I know it's not just because she's a Republican. I would not have voted for John McCain even if he'd had a better running mate- but I don't get angry just thinking about him. So Sarah Palin's got my attention in a different way.
Having noodled this reaction for awhile, I have come to the conclusion that it's her extreme narcissism that gets to me. It also occurs to me that I am particularly galled by it because this expression of dizzyingly undeserved self love is expressed by a woman, and not a man. Presently, I am co-authoring a book on Narcissistic Men, and this is a typology that I recognize and understand… it is the man who is a "Captain of the Universe" enabled in his imperiousness and willfulness by fawning subordinates and dazzled women. I could go on, but you know the type. They are usually attractive, bright and often charming people--as long as they are getting their own way. If they get thwarted- they are a nasty bit of business.
I know women are not immune from this disease, but I am always startled when I see it. After all, most little girls, including myself, were told to be nice, play fair, and support others. Even those of us who rebelled and went after our own best interests usually retain some of the "people pleasing" aspects of our early childhood personality. When you see a woman who appears to have no desire to please others, unless she is benefits from her actions, it is a bit breathtaking.
So Sarah leaves me quite breathless. She is grandiose, high maintenance and extremely selfish and therefore deluded about her qualifications. She is used to charming the socks off of most people (and especially men), and she has a certain contempt for everyone as a result of getting away with it a lot of the time. Her speech about "Not being a quitter" just because she was deserting the governor's office in mid-term, was a miracle of contempt for her audience. Her desire to stay on the road and in the spotlight without consideration for her large young family, a special needs baby and a teenage mother of her grandchild, is ambition without the slightest nod to other's needs. She is as ruthlessly self-indulgent and narcissistic as any man ever born. She reconfigures my previous thinking about gender and narcissism.
By what's my personal with this? I suppose as a feminist, I have always felt that ambition and a certain amount of narcissism were necessary tools for women to make their way in the world. I applaud most women who work hard, share parenting, and reach for the stars. I have never thought about what it looks like, however, when there is no responsibility to anyone else, when ambition is unfettered by other values of caretaking – to a family- or to a constituency. Taking a look at the end of the continuum of self love and self aggrandizement has been a sobering experience. It is a revision - a reminder that the balanced life includes a critical evaluation of the self, some humility, and some sacrifice and service.
Sarah Palin gets to me. I wish she would get to everyone who sees her- the fact that she has even one acolyte scares the hell out of me. And it's really not about her politics at this point. I am just scared by someone who has no capacity to love or give or understand her own limitations. I hope she is leaving office to make a lot of cash to spend on even more expensive clothes and other stuff. I dread the possibility that she might be leaving because she has a yen to become an even more powerful national figure. I can only hope that if that is the case, her mangled thinking and her mangled language will not hide the clearest thing about her- she doesn't give a damn about anyone but herself.

Posted by Dr. Pepper Schwartz at July 22, 2009 4:36 p.m.

 

I think that is probably a fairly accurate assessment. It is also a psychological profile that could lead to meglomania......Gee, I hope she does run for Prez in 2012......

 

Thank you, Whitey!

I think Pepper Schwartz has nailed Sarah Palin. I don't think we have much to fear from her, however, since I am a Democrat. The Republicans may have something to fear, especialy if she teams up with other right wing Republicans to form a third party movement that could destroy the GOP.

 

The scariest thing to me is that I am sure many people would actually vote for her in case she runs for President.

 

Many people would vote for Charles Manson if HE ran for president. No matter what kind of demented campaign she cranks up, there's a hard core of support for her that wouldn't care if she admitted to gangfucking the seven dwarfs in a cottage in the woods.

I, too, think Pepper Schwartz hit pretty close to the center of the dartboard in that piece. This is a person who is either completely delusional, or lies so calmly and easily it's downright scary.

 

While I agree that Pepper Schwartz describes Sarah Palin quite well she neither fascinates or horrifies me. Admittedly Palin had been more adept at grabbing the spotlight and trying to hang onto it than most there is no substance there. There is no real intellect. And there is no real ability beyond self promotion.

The hollow and the perfect example of pretty face don't make a pretty heart.

On the other hand she would actually score some points with me if the gang fucked the seven dwarfs. At least that way there would be one thing that she did that wasn't just for show.

 

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was an awesome album.


:neutral:

 

Stumbler-----she's already part of the way there---she married Dopey.

 

I agree that she's an intellectual lightweight, obviously...but that's not inconsistent with having a devious mind and a genius for self-promotion.

I suspect, too, that a lot of her appeal, at least to men, is that they harbor the secret thought that she just MIGHT gangfuck the seven dwarves.

 

The really scary thing is the possibility that Dopey is actually the brains of the outfit.

 

I think poor old Pepper is acting out her neuroses. She's a feminist, researching a book on narcissistic men (which I'm sure won't be positive), has a knee-jerk hatred of republicans (not that that's unusual, especially here), condemning Palin because she didn't learn the same childhood lessons as Pepper and isn't the type of woman Pepper wants her to be.

Got news for you, lady, we're not all here to be what you want us to be, even the women.

Whether you like Sarah Palin or hate her, it's pretty obvious Pepper Schwartz is a fruitcake.

 

Personally, I think Sahar907 is pretty cool!!

Oh wait - Sarah right? Sarah Palintocomparison? Oops!!

 

Personally, I think misspelling a forum member's name is the best thing going!

 

That's true - I mean, people might have thunk I was talking about Saharaha, but I wasn't!! I MEANT to put Sahar *grin*

 

She scares the hell out of the scumbags known as liberals

 

*laughing* Actually, most of us can't WAIT to see her running for president in 2012. She makes even George Bush look like an intellectual giant. She couldn't even complete her one and only term as governor of Alaska.

So by all means, nominate her. I'd be happy to make a contribution.

 

As your nemesisessessssis , I declare a fail! :excited:

 

Sure you don't mean fLail? *waits for ewe to oOogle the word*

 

I personally dont think that she is ready for that arena, but I will say ''you liberals are scared shitless of her''..